TABLE OF CONTENTS J.Csikai, R.D czi
Department of Experimental Physics, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
Miscellaneous applications of low-voltage neutron generators providing 3 MeV and 14 MeV neutrons via the D-D and D-T reactions, respectively, are reviewed. New experimental methods are reported, and emerging applications in the areas of prompt and delayed neutron activation analysis, fast neutron imaging and profiling, irradiation effects, fast neutron radiobiology, and shielding design are highlighted.
In this chapter some applications of low voltage (~150 200 kV) neutron generators using 3 MeV and 14 MeV neutrons, produced via the 2H(d,n) 3He (D-D) and 3H(d,n) 4He (D-T) reactions, respectively, are discussed. Principles of operation and output characteristics of neutron generators have been described elsewhere (Csikai 1987, 1989, IAEA 1996, 2000). The nuclear methods based on small neutron generators have a great importance in the development of such new technologies as process and quality-control systems, exploration of natural resources, detection of illicit traffic materials, transmutation of nuclear waste, fusion reactor neutronics, irradiation effects on biological and industrial samples, which can be directly utilized in other sciences, in the economy and society.
Recently, neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been improved by application of separated isotopes as targets, quick radiochemical separations, corrections for flux perturbation in the case of bulky samples, high-resolution detectors [1] (Ge(Li), HPGe, LEGe, Si(Li), Si-avalanche, etc.) and better data acquisition as well as processing systems, in addition to...
